A clown-sighting at the University of Illinois at Chicago prompted a response from campus police, but the scare turned out to be something far more innocent.
University police said they received calls about a clown on the campus Tuesday afternoon.
Officers responding to the scene ultimately found a student working on a performance art project.
The student was initially questioned but no arrests were made, authorities said.
The sighting comes as frightening clown encounters and social media threats flood police departments and schools nationwide.
Earlier Tuesday, a number of northwest Indiana schools were on high alert after threats appearing to be from clowns were made against students at several schools in Hammond, Indiana.
A school in Waukegan was locked down Tuesday afternoon after three people dressed as clowns threatened children at the school.
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In Hobart, Indiana, a social media threat involving a clown targeted Hobart Middle School. The school is planning extra security to be in place Wednesday due to the threat.
In Mokena, Lincoln-Way Central has reported Instagram clown threats, prompting school officials to cancel recess Wednesday.
